So, How Have Clubs Fared After Making A Change?

By Sam Elliott

Steve Davis’ Leyton Orient exit was the ninth time this season that a managerial change has taken place in the Vanarama National League.

Not all have been because of bad results, of course. But when a new manager comes it, that all important first few months usually tells a lot.

We take an in-depth look at the clubs who have someone different at the helm from who they started with, and how the new manager - or managers in two cases - have fared.

Who will Orient call on to get their season up and running? Maybe there are lessons to be learned from the others who have had a change in their dug out.

Let’s investigate.

Solihull Moors
It’s not been the season Solihull Moors fans had in mind. A slow start cost Liam McDonald on October 4, but what happened next really set them back.

Moors pulled off a massive coup by persuading Richard Money to take the job, but it didn’t last long. The former Cambridge United and Luton Town manager resigned after only 26 days at the helm.

They await their third manager of the season with interest. He needs to have the words ‘able to pull off the Great Escape’ on his CV!

Torquay United
When a manager leaves less than two weeks into the season there’s always an element of sympathy. Kevin Nicholson’s exit on August 17 with the Gulls bottom wasn’t in the script but Gary Owers has already made his mark.

After an excellent win at Ebbsfleet a few weeks ago he famously said ‘we’re not rubbish anymore!”

But there’s a lot of work ahead. Torquay are still embedded in the bottom four, and their home form leaves a lot to be desired.

Chester
When you’re not winning games at home, it’s always a problem. Jon McCarthy paid the price with 14 matches winless at the Deva Stadium on September 6.

So far so good for the new man. OK, Chester’s league place hasn’t improved significantly but there’s a feeling Marcus Bignot’s appointment is an astute one. Chester fans feel fortunes are about to change and a surge up the Vanarama National League isn’t far away.

Barrow
It’s fair to say Barrow haven’t had the best of times on the managerial front. Firstly, Paul Cox called time on August 24 - just five games into a season which had seen just one defeat.

The change, although not enforced, didn’t work out. Barrow put caretaker manager Micky Moore in temporary charge and after a month handed him the post full time. The board decided it wasn’t working and bought in Ady Pennock, who got off to a great start with a 3-1 home win over Aldershot.

Guiseley
After pulling off the most dramatic and gutsy of final day reprieves at the expense of York City, more was expected of the Lions this season at boardroom level.

But five points from their first seven games wasn’t enough, and action was taken. Their inexperienced manager was replaced by one who knows the division like the back of his hand.

Paul Cox’s record so far is 16 points from 11 games. Carry that on, and surely Guiseley will have a good chance of staying up.

Gateshead
It wasn’t the change they wanted to make at the International Stadium, but they seem to have found the perfect fit.

Popular Neil Aspin got an offer from Port Vale which he couldn’t resist. Aspin went home, and so did Macclesfield’s assistant manager Steve Watson.

Back in his native north east, the former Newcastle defender is doing what he used to - keeping clean sheets! Heed haven’t let in a goal in their last four games - and they’re getting their scoring act together, too.

Where next?

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